Puzzle.



R. HUTCHISON.

PUZZLE.

' APPLICAHON FILED FEB. 2. 1914.

Patented July 27, 1915.

coLUMmA PLANOCIRAPH cm. WASHINGTON, D. C

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RICHARD I-IUTGI-IISON, 0F BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

PUZZLE.

Application filed February 2, 1914. Serial No. 315,868,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD HUToHisoN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Brookline, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in. Puzzles, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing llke parts.

The present invention relates to a puzzle and is embodied in a. puzzle of that class. in which small movable bodies, usually spherical, are contained in a casing which is provided with compartments or channels, the solution of the puzzle consistingin collecting the movable bodies in one ormore channels or compartments by manipulating the puzzle in such a way as to utilize the force of gravity.

In accordance with the present invention, the supporting surface for the movable bodies is curved, being shown as convex, and

the compartments are formed on said curved surface, this construction having the advantage that a practical device can be made in a small and convenient shape, the curvature of the surface, moreover, making it more difficult to control the movement of the bodies inside.

I have shown the invention as embodied in a puzzle which is cylindrical in shape and contains small balls of different colors, the cylindrical surface being provided with a continuous annular channel around the middle and veshaped channels at opposite sides of the annular channel, the said V-shaped channels being staggered so that the outer boundary of one channel comes opposite the middle of another channel. The body por tion thus formed is inclosed within a transparent cylindrical cover and the balls are of such size as to roll freely in the space between the bottoms of the channels and the cover.

Figure l is a side elevation of a puzzle embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line X of Fig.1; and

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 27, 1915.

of the said annular channel the surface of the cylinder is provided with pockets or recesses 3 which are shown as V-shaped, the said channels at opposite ends being staggered as indicated in Fig. 1 so that the openings of the pockets into the annular channel are not opposite to each other. The

tion and the concave surface of the sleeve contains a plurality of small bodies preferably spherical, which are free to roll or move about in the said space through the action of gravity. These spherical bodies or balls may be of different colors as indicated in Fig. 1, so that in using the puzzle there are different combinations which one can try to bring about. In the construction shown, for example, there are 6 V-shaped recesses at each end of the article, making twelve in all; and there may be, for example, 12 of the balls 5 contained in the space between the body and the transparent sleeve. If half, therefore, are of one color, and the other half of another, one can attempt to group the balls in the recesses in one end or the other of the puzzle, bringing for example a ball of each color into each pocket.

As a further feature of the invention, I use balls of magnetic material so that the arrangement of the balls can be brought about by the action of a magnet, acting through the inclosing cover.

Another form of the puzzle, having the same novel characteristics, is shown in Fig. 3, the channels at one end being omitted, and the said end being oval in shape, so that the puzzle resembles a ball cartridge. The transparent outer portion conforms to the inner portion, so that the ball containing space between the inner and outer curved surfaces is the same throughout.

As an additional feature the body is shown as provided with a longitudinal bore 6 substantially equal in diameter to the diameter of the balls. This opening is shown as enlarged at its outer end for the ready insertion of the balls; and it is, of course, possible, though difficult to get the balls out. To increase the difficulty the transparent cover 4: has a magnifying portion 7 overthe end of the bore 6, so as to make the opening appear larger than it really is.

"What I claim is:

1. A puzzle comprising a support having a curved surface provided with staggered longitudinal channels and an annular middle channel intercepting them, combined with a transparent cover part, and a plurality of spherical bodies inclosed between 3. A puzzle consisting of a container having a convex inner portion and concave outer portion, said portions conforming in shape, and the outer portion being transparent; a plurality of longitudinal chan- 1 nelswithin said container, the walls of said channels extending across the container between the inner and outer portions; and a plurality of balls of diiferent colors in said container, said balls being confined between V-shaped pockets and a continuous channel communicating with the open ends of said pockets, and balls of magnetic material contained in said casing, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. A puzzle consisting of a body portion having a convex surface and a longitudinal bore extending wholly through it, and a transparent cover portion for said body with an open space between said cover and body portions, there being a magnifying part in the cover portion adjacent to the end of said longitudinal bore.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

- RICHARD HUTCHISON.

Witnesses:

MARY L. MALoNEY, JAs. J. MALONEY.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G. 

